Ditching-machine.



M. L. PUULTER.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 1915.

Patented June '6, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

awuen'mz M.l. POULTER.

DITCHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED mAvlo. mm.

Patented June 6, 1916.

'3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

V JizE E M. L. POULTER.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 19l5.

1,1 86,036. Patented June 6, 1916.

- 3 ISHEETSSHEET 3 MICAJAH L. POULTER, 0F MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA.

DITCHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed May 10, 1915. Serial N 0. 27,159.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MICAJAH L. POULTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Pleasant, in the county of Henry and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching- Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as willrenable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates broadly to improve mentsin excavating machines and more particularly to those primarily designed for ditching purposes.

The object of the invention is to improve upon the general construction of devices of this class to such an extent as to provide a very simple machine, yet one which will be highly efficient in operation and Wlll possess a number of advantageous features.

With this general object in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and combination hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention, I shall refer to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view of an excavator constructed in accordance with my invention,'this view being taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is substantially a front view of the excavator; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the framework with parts broken away and in section; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail side elevation of a portion of one of the chain's; Fig. 5 is an outer side view of the parts seen in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section as seen along the plane indicated by the line 66 of Fig. 5;Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a portion of the excavator showing the application thereto of a plurality of stiffening bars to be described; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section as'seen along the plane indicated by the line 88 of Fig. 7 Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively side and plan views of a slightly modified form of excavating and elevating member; and-Figs. ll and 12 are views similar to Figs. 9 and 10 respectively, showing yet another type of excavating and elevating member.

In thes'edrawings, constituting a part of the application, I have shown only the parts of the complete machine wherein reside. the numerous novel features of the invention, all of these parts being directlyass'ociated with an endless belt member 1 which is to be disposed at the front end of the complete machine and to be driven by any preferred means for accomplishing the desired results. i

The belt 1 is here shown as formed of a plurality of ,individual belts 2 whose edges contact with each other as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The entire belt structure 1 travels around 'a rectangular supporting frame 3 having a trio of guide sprockets 4 disposed at its lower end and alined with three such.

sprockets 5 keyed to the horizontal shaft'fi at its upper end, the shaft 6 being/mounted in appropriate bearings 7 carried by' the laterally projecting ends of the up r end bar 8 of the frame. entcase, the shaft 6 is driven by a sprocket As shown in t e pres wheel 9 secured to one of its ends, itbeing therefore evidbntthat as said shaft is romounted, the opposite ends of this shaft being equipped with sprocket wheels 11 which aline with .those 5 and over which, other belts 2 pass, these belts being therefore necessarilyof less length than those passing over the wheels 4 and 5. V

Spaced above the bearings 10 and disposed at substantially the center of the frame 3, is a pair of alined laterally extendin'g bearings 12 in which tin-additional shaft 13 carrying sprocket wheels 13 on its ends is rotatably mounted, said wheels being alined with the sprocket wheels 5 and being engaged by the lowermost loops of the outermost belt members 2, these members being of less length than those previously described, thus providing the belt member' 1 with stepped edges at its lower end, this being advantageous since by its use, ditches of greater width at the top than at the bottom may be dug.

In the present case, the shaftG is shown as provided with seven sprocket wheels, seven belt members 2 being therefore used in the complete machine, but it will be evi dent that if desired, certain of these beltmeinbers may be removed or that by replacing certain of the shafts at the'lower end of the excavator by longershafts, the outermost belt members 2 could be lengthened, thereby allowing the belt member 1 to be varied in design according to the use to which it is to be applied.

The belt members- 2 hereinbefore ded each comprise an endless chain 14 of the roller type passing over the upper and lower guide sprockets, a'plurality of overiapping rectangular plates 15 and 15*, and excavating .and elevating .members 16 secured in contact with the outer sides of said plates 15*, the'latter as'well as the plates 15 ibeing'disposedagainst the outer side of the chain 14.

For the purpose of securing the plates 15 and the members 16 to the chain, similar vices 17 and 17 are provided- The member 17 is in the form of a rectangular block or shankjhaving a reduced neck upset at 18" in a. rectangular opening in the plate 15, this shank having a pair of curved seats 19 in oppositesides' which receive portions of certain rollersQO of the chain 14, it being evident from the drawings see more particularly Fig.6), that theshank 17 is received by one of the links of said chain. The member 17 is identical in'construction' with that designated at'l? with the exception that its designfis varied to a slight extent and it is passed through an elongated rectangular opening 18'' in theplate 15* and is formed preferably used for the purpose of securing the several overlapping rectangular plates to the chains 14, it will be evident that other means might easily be provided .for this purpose without departing from the spirit It is. essential, however,

abiit'so closely as to prevent earth from falling therethrough, and is likewise highly desirable to dispose the side edges of the adjacent rows of overlapping plates in 0 such a close contact as to prevent the discharge ofmaterial through the spaces therebetween.

- It will thus be seen that the earth dug up by the excavating and conveying member 16 will be supported not only thereon but upon the continuous fiat faced belt member 1 and will be conveyed upwardly by these parts to cutting .blades 21 of these members 'areof substantially the width of the belt member 2. This disposition of parts is highly essential since not only are V-shaped supports for the earth being elevated, provided, but the out ermost of the rows of members 16 pass over the upper sprocket/sin advance of the lower member16; thus tending to break "up and loosen-the body of earth or. the like supported by said members and assisting greatly in allowing the same to deliver their contents upon the usual conveyer above mentioned. .It may here be further explained, that the blades 21 of the members 16 are provided with no projections whatever at the opposite ends of their .front faces 21*, thus also facilitating the discharge of earth from said members. c

vI am aware that heretofore conveying belts having V-shaped rows of buckets have .been provided but the results obtainable by the open sided members 16 cannot be obtained by the use ofsuch buckets, since when I ditching damp or muddy earth, the same packs'within said buckets and cannot be discharged therefrom. By constructing the .members 16 as shown in the drawings, however, no parts are provided in which the mud or earthcan lodge, thus allowing the breaking action exertedupon the earth when passing-over the upper sprocket wheels, to effectively loosen and discharge such earth from the'aforesaid. members 16. Furthermore, this delivery of the elevated material is facilitated by the uniquemounting of the excavatingmembers 16. In the present application, these members are shown as including the transversely disposed cutting blades 21 which are formed integrally with and project outwardly from the rear ends of a plurality of necks 22 disposed longitudinally upon the belt members 2, it being to .ugon the material by the members 16, to

ectively clear the entire u per end pf the excavator of earth even t ough same be damp and packed to a great extent.-

VVhen the machin e is used for ditching earth in which numbers of roots are encountered, or perhaps embedded brush, it becomes expedient in addition to'the transverse blades 21; .to provide longitudinal cutting blades projecting forwardly from the intermediate portions of said blades 21. The blades 23'are here shown of substanass around the uppermost ."the front ends of these necks that the outer ill.

1,1se,oas

tiai y tri nlar formation and as being secured by bolts 24 to longitudinzn ilanges 25 which project forwardly from the front faces 21 of the members 16, the outer cutting edges :26 of the several blades 23 being preferably extended outwardly beyond" the cuttin edges of the blades 21. lly this constrmrtion, it will be evident that as the memhcrs 16 are mov'ed forwardly against the rarth. the blades 26 will sever all roots and the like therein, thus; allowing a more perfect operation of the machine and prevent log the several excavating: members from becoming cloggcd by the debris encountered. The members 16 may be constructed in 24* manner previously described and the may be scoured r. tin the man fwih or by pract... lly any other l means. As illustrative of one e aif have been prepared. In tint; two the blade iii" of the excavating menr is provided with a mortise 21 openhiough its cutting edge, this mortise wing a tenon .2; on the rear end of a dinally disposed cutting blade :23. 'if is blade 23' contacts with the longitudinally disposed dang-r projecting for wardly from t blade 21' and outwardly from the neck 22 of thc excavating memher, a single bolt 24- suliicii'ig for securing the blade 25" against dislocation when. this construction is provided.

Another manner in which the excavating and elevating members may be constructed is disclosed in Figs. 11 and 12 in which said members are designated broadly by the numeral 16.,these mcmbersbeing of practically the same construction as those previously described with the exception that they are provided with no longitudinal cutting blades. They are equipped however, with attaching lugs 17 similar to those previously described.

In addition to the features just described, the members 16 are provided with attach ing shanks 17 whereby they may be secured to thc chains of the endless belt member as previously set forth, it being evident that in order to attach any of the excavating membcrs or any of the plates 15, certain of the side plates of the chains 14 must be removed to allow for the insertion of the shanks 17, 1'1"" and 17' as the case may be.

it is a well known fact that when applying devices of the class previously described to use. the upper and lower reaches of the several endless belt members are .apt to be warped inwardly by continued contact with thc sides of the ditch. This would be an extremely undesirable mode of operation in a machine constructed in accordance with the prcsent invention, since it would cause unnecessary friction to exist between the abut ting edges of the several belt members. It

corners, thus forming the ditch with two upright parallel sides and aflat bottom. However, if in some cases it be found desirable, the construction in question may be used upon the belt member formed of the central trio of belts 2, when said belts are positioned as shown in Fig. 2.

The. essential "construction just referred in Figs. '1' and 8 of the accom- .v ngs in which the belt memhccn disposed above set forth,

and a flat Motto i. In these figures, a plurality of transverse rigid bars 50 is shown as secured at ii ii ends by bolts or other appropi late fastcncis o the outcrmost of the belt members it being thuscvident. that regardless of the amount of contact existing between said members and thewalls of the ditch, the former cannot be warped or injured in any manner whatsoever, since 'lat eral. thrust on each of the outermost belts 2 is exerted directly upon the opposite belt.

In order to remove projections and loosen dirt from the side walls of the ditch, the opposite ends of the bars 50 are provided with smoothing shoes 51 preferably having their edges sharpened as seen at 52 whereby to remove any obstructions upon said walls. The

shoes 51 could well be of any preferred construction, but they are shown in the present application and in practice, as preferably bent laterally from the ends of the bars 50, this being extremely simple yet very efficient construction.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that a highly eflicient excavating machine has been provided for producing the desired end. yet that the same will be comparatively simple in construction.

In theaccompanying drawings, certain specific details of construction are illustrated for producing probably the best results and in the foregoing description, such details have been specifically described. It will be evident, however. that I need not be limited thereto, otherwise than to the extent to which the appendcd claims limit me.

I claim:

1. in combination. a belt member comprising a plurality of individual belt members movablc in the same direction and having their edges disposed in contact with ditch with upright sides each other, and a plurality of excavating inembers carried by said'belt members.

2. In combination, a plurality of individual belt members of different lengths movable in the. same direction and having their 'edges disposed in contact with each other,

and a plurality of excavating members carried by said belt members.

3. In combination, an endless belt member having thereon a plurality of ex'cavating and elevating members each having a transverse permanent blade, a longitudinal attaching flange extending forwardly therefrom, and a removable longitudinally disposedblade leading forwardly from the transverse blade and detachably secured to 4. In combination, an endless belt'member havin thereon a plurality of excavating and e e'ating members each having a transverse permanent blade having a mortise, a longitudinally disposed removable I blade having a tenon received by said mortise, and releasable me'ans preventing relative movement of the two b ides.

5. In combination, an endless belt member having thereon a plurality of excavat ing and elevating members each having a, permanent transverse blade having a inortise and a rigld flange continuing forwardly from said blade. a longitudinally disposed 'blade having a tenon received by the mortise, said longitudinal blade being disposed in contact With the flange, and a releasable fastener passing through said longitudinal blade and said flange.

6. In combination, a plurality of endless chains disposed side by side and each having a plurality of plates on its outer side. the edges of the plates of one chain being disposed continguous to those on the adjacent chain. and excavating and elevating members disposed contiguous to the outer faces of said plates and movable there 7. In combiantion, a plurality of endless chains disposed side by side and each having a plurality of overlapped plates on its outer side, theside edges of the plates on one chain being disposed contiguous to those on the ad1acent chain, and excavating and I elevating members disposed contiguous to the outer sides of said plates and movable therewith; I

8.l In combination, a roller chain, plates contacting with one side thereof. and plate attaching shanks snugly disposed between certain 'of the rollers of the chain and having curved seats receiving the same.

9. In comblnation, a sprocket chain,

plates disposed in contact with one side 11. In combination, a sprocket chain.

plates disposed in contact with one side thereof, attaching shanks projecting beyond the-plates and received by certain links of the chain, and seats on the shanks in turn receiving portions of said links.

12. An excavating device for attachment to endless beltmembers and comprising a blade having a mortise between its ends for the reception of a tenonon an additional blade.

13. An excavating device for attachment ,to'an endless belt member and comprising a blade having a mortise between its ends. and a flange extending laterally from one of its sides adjacent said mortise, the flange being adapted for the attachment of an additional blade, and the mortise beingdesigned to receive therein a tenon: on the additional blade. 4 I

14. In combination, a main endless belt member composed of a plurality of individual belt members movable in the same direction and having their edges disposed in contact. a plurality of excavating buckets carried by the individual belt members, and a plurality of bars extending transversely from one edge of the main belt member to the. other edge thereof and having their opposite ends bent laterally to form shoes for contact with the sides of the ditch to prevent binding of the individual belt members .against each other, the portion of the bar between the two shoes being free from pro jections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MICAJAII L. POULTER. lVituesses:

' EARL C. IIUEN n,

l). linemen. 

